About St. Stephen Catholic Church · Winter Springs, Florida
St. Stephen Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Winter Springs, Florida, in the Diocese of Orlando, serving eastern Seminole County since the mid-1980s. The parish community worships at 575 Tuskawilla Road and is centered on the celebration of the Eucharist, with daily Mass, a vigorous OCIA program, music ministries, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, and a robust Society of St. Vincent de Paul chapter. Founded by Monsignor John J. Bluett and named for St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr and deacon, the parish grew from its first 800-person liturgy at Lake Howell High School into a multi-building campus with a parish life center, gym, and faith-formation classrooms.
- Established
- 1984
- Patron
- St. Stephen (the first Christian martyr and deacon)
- Rector
- Rev. George A. Nursey, PhD
- Diocese
- Diocese of Orlando
Why belong here
St. Stephen is a welcoming Eucharistic-centered community on Tuskawilla Road that offers daily and weekend Mass, weekly Confession, and two regular slots for Exposition and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament (Tuesdays and First Fridays). Parishioners can grow in faith through a full K-12 Faith Formation program, the OCIA process for adults becoming Catholic, an active Youth Ministry, and choirs for the 9 am and 11 am Masses as well as a Children's Choir. Outreach is in the parish's DNA — from the parish-founded Pathways to Care and Safehouse of Seminole County, to a robust Society of St. Vincent de Paul chapter that runs Home Visits, Paint-Up-Fix-Up repairs, a Meals Ministry, and an Advent Tree Christmas Program — making St. Stephen a natural home for Catholics in Winter Springs who want both liturgical depth and concrete service.
Mass times at St. Stephen Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:30 – 4:40 pm
- First Saturday of the month: Following the 8:30 am Mass
- By appointment — call the parish office at (407) 699-5683
Adoration times
- Tuesday Exposition & Adoration: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm in the church
- First Friday Exposition & Adoration: immediately following the 7:00 am Mass until 12:00 pm in the chapel (sign up for a 30- or 60-minute slot)
Parish History
Bishop Thomas Joseph Grady approved the establishment of a new Catholic community to serve eastern Seminole County on December 5, 1984, and appointed Father John J. Bluett as the founding pastor on February 5, 1984. Three patron names were proposed for the new church; Father Bluett chose St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, who lived a life of service as a deacon, leading prayer, preaching the Word, and caring for those in need — a charism the parish still embraces. The community worshipped at Lake Howell High School for its first 800-person liturgy on June 16, 1985. Building plans advanced rapidly: a $1.5 million campaign raised $1,521,978 by November 1985, Bishop Grady broke ground on February 22, 1986, and the community celebrated its first Eucharist in the new church on Holy Thursday, April 16, 1987.
- Dec 5, 1984 — Bishop Grady approves new parish
- Feb 5, 1984 — Msgr. John J. Bluett appointed founding pastor
- First organizational meeting: 10 Catholics; Lynn Hinson elected first parish council chair
- June 16, 1985 — First parish Mass at Lake Howell HS (800 attendees)
- Nov 8, 1985 — Building fund exceeds $1.52 million in cash and pledges
- Feb 22, 1986 — Groundbreaking at 575 Tuskawilla Road
- April 16, 1987 — First Mass in new church (Holy Thursday)
- 2009 — 25th Anniversary Jubilee Mass celebrated by Bishop Noonan
- Church Building Envelope Project and "Honoring our Past, Envisioning our Future" capital campaign in recent years
Clergy & Staff
St. Stephen is currently led by Rev. George A. Nursey, PhD, as pastor, and is also served by Deacon Jim Ferruzzi (the parish's first deacon, ordained by Bishop John Noonan). A full lay staff supports faith formation, liturgy, youth ministry, facilities, and administration.
- Rev. George A. Nursey, PhD — Pastor ([email protected])
- Deacon Jim Ferruzzi ([email protected])
- Vera Howard — Adult Formation Coordinator (OCIA)
- Luis Cortes — Youth Minister
- Laurie DeLuca — Catechetical Leader, Grades K-12
- Lydia La Mott — Faith Formation Admin, Grades 1-5
- Phillip Revekant — Director of Music and Liturgy
- Andrew Morales — Liturgy, Music & Communications Admin
- Mabel Bova — Coordinator of Baptisms and Marriages
- Janet McMahon — Business Manager
- Jodie Tully — Office Administrator
- Dan Johannes — Facilities Supervisor
- Dave Lumb — Facilities Assistant
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation at St. Stephen serves children in Grades K-12 and is led by Catechetical Leader Laurie DeLuca and Faith Formation Administrator Lydia La Mott. A Multi-Age Sacrament Program serves students in Grades 3–9 who have not yet received Baptism, Reconciliation, or First Eucharist, after one year of regular Faith Formation. Sacramental preparation for Reconciliation and First Eucharist takes place in 2nd grade after 1st-grade formation.
- Faith Formation for Grades K-12
- Multi-Age Sacrament Program (Grades 3-9) for Baptism, Reconciliation, First Eucharist
- First Reconciliation & First Eucharist preparation in 2nd grade
- Confirmation preparation — contact parish office
OCIA — Becoming Catholic (Adults)
The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) walks adults into full communion with the Catholic Church through prayer, study, discussion, and ritual. It is open to adults and children 8 and older who have never been baptized, Christians baptized in another tradition seeking to become Catholic, and baptized Catholics who have not yet received Eucharist and/or Confirmation.
- Coordinator: Vera Howard (Adult Formation Coordinator)
- Meets Mondays 6:30 – 8:00 pm in Conference Room 113
- Catechumens typically journey from fall to the Easter Vigil, receiving Baptism, Confirmation, and First Holy Communion
- Baptized Christian candidates receive the Rite of Full Communion during a weekend Mass
- Baptized Catholic candidates are confirmed by the Bishop of the Diocese of Orlando
Youth Ministry
St. Stephen's Youth Ministry hosts monthly social events for middle-school and high-school age youth from public schools, private schools, and homeschool. It is led by Youth Minister Luis Cortes and welcomes teens bringing friends.
- Monthly social events for middle school and high school
- Contact: Luis Cortes, (407) 699-5683 ext. 251 — [email protected]
Music Ministry
Directed by Phillip Revekant, the Music Ministry offers opportunities for adults and children to serve at the parish's liturgies. No audition is required for the adult choirs, and youth can earn service hours while participating.
- 9 am Choir — rehearses Tuesdays 7:00–8:30 pm; sings at 9 am Sunday Mass from Labor Day weekend through Corpus Christi and on some Holy Days
- 11 am Choir — rehearses Wednesdays 7:00–8:30 pm; sings at the 11 am Sunday Mass on the same seasonal schedule
- Children's Choir — rehearses Wednesdays 7:00 pm in the church; sings once a month at the 11 am Sunday Mass; open to children in Grades 2-8
- Time commitment: weekly 90-minute rehearsal, plus 30-minute pre-Mass warmup and the Mass itself
Society of St. Vincent de Paul
Founded in 1833, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is a worldwide organization of lay Catholics who follow Christ's call to serve the poor, suffering, and deprived. The St. Stephen conference meets bi-weekly on Monday evenings and runs multiple hands-on ministries.
- Bi-weekly Monday night meetings
- Home Visits — training available
- Paint-Up-Fix-Up — small home repairs and yard work for families, seniors in need, and special circumstances
- Meals Ministry — delivering meals to the ill, homebound, and those in special circumstances
- Advent Tree Christmas Program
- Annual SVDP Golf Tournament at Twin Rivers Golf Club in Oviedo
- Contact: (407) 699-5683
Sacraments
St. Stephen offers preparation for all seven sacraments. Sacramental preparation is coordinated through the parish office, with Mabel Bova serving as Coordinator of Baptisms and Marriages.
- Baptism — parents must be registered, active members 3 months before beginning the process; contact Mabel Bova, ext. 231
- Reconciliation — Saturdays 3:30–4:40 pm, First Saturdays after 8:30 am Mass, or by appointment
- First Eucharist — prepared in 2nd grade after 1st-grade Faith Formation
- Confirmation — contact parish office for preparation
- Marriage — couples must be registered, active members for 6 months, followed by a 6-month Marriage prep course; contact Mabel Bova, ext. 231
- Anointing of the Sick — call 407-699-5683 to arrange
- OCIA — for adults seeking initiation
Outreach & Service
Outreach has been at the heart of St. Stephen's mission since the early 1990s, when the parish launched bread runs, Habitat for Humanity house builds, neighbor home repairs, youth mentoring, a Thanksgiving food drive, and Lenten alms. The parish also co-founded Safehouse of Seminole County and spearheaded Pathways to Care in Casselberry — an assisted-living/rehabilitation facility under Catholic Charities of Central Florida that serves homeless individuals recovering from hospitalization.
- Bread runs and Habitat for Humanity house builds
- Home repairs for neighbors in need
- Youth mentoring
- Thanksgiving food drive and Lenten alms
- Pathways to Care (Casselberry) — founded and dedicated by the parish; rehab/assisted-living for the homeless recovering from hospitalization
- Safehouse of Seminole County — co-founded by the parish; 90-bed facility for battered and abused women
Parish Campus & Facilities
St. Stephen's campus at 575 Tuskawilla Road includes the church, a parish life center, a gym, and faith-formation classrooms. Recent years have brought a Church Building Envelope Project to make critical fixes and rejuvenate the church, followed by the "Honoring our Past, Envisioning our Future" campaign to replenish those funds.
- 575 Tuskawilla Road, just north of Winter Springs Boulevard
- Church building (designed by architect Rick Swisher)
- Parish life center
- Gym
- Faith-formation classrooms
- Chapel (Reconciliation Room on the left side of the chapel)
- Conference Room 113 (used for OCIA)
- Church Building Envelope Project and "Honoring our Past, Envisioning our Future" capital campaign
Contact & Visiting
The parish office is at 575 Tuskawilla Road, Winter Springs, FL 32708, and can be reached at (407) 699-5683 or [email protected]. Office hours are Monday–Thursday 9:00 am–4:00 pm and Friday 9:00 am–12:00 pm.
- Phone: (407) 699-5683
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours — Monday-Thursday: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
- Office Hours — Friday: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
- Address: 575 Tuskawilla Road, Winter Springs, Florida 32708
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Msgr. John J. Bluett1984–c. 2012 (founding pastor; retired June 13)
Founding pastor appointed by Bishop Thomas Grady on Feb 5, 1984; first Mass celebrated June 16, 1985 at Lake Howell HS with 800 attendees; oversaw groundbreaking Feb 22, 1986; first Eucharist in new church April 16, 1987; later made a Monsignor (Chaplain to His Holiness) by Pope Francis; celebrated 50th and 58th anniversaries of ordination; spearheaded Pathways to Care and Safehouse of Seminole County outreach.
- Rev. Fr. George Dunne, S.S.S.2001–c. 2012
Joined as parochial vicar in January 2001 alongside Msgr. Bluett; retired alongside him.
- Rev. Fr. Mike Hameljoined parish staff 2012
Joined the parish staff in 2012.
- Rev. Fr. John Giel
Appointed pastor of St. Stephen by Bishop John Noonan.
- Rev. George A. Nursey, PhDcurrent pastor
Appointed by Bishop Noonan as the next pastor of St. Stephen; current pastor.